Carlos Alcaraz ended Jannik Sinner’s remarkable 26-match winning streak with a commanding 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory in the Italian Open final, securing his first title in Rome.
World number one Sinner, playing in his first tournament back after serving a three-month doping suspension, was aiming to become the first Italian man to win the tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
However, Alcaraz proved too strong, particularly in a dominant second set.
The opening set was a tense battle. Sinner held two set points but squandered the opportunity, missing a backhand return wide and allowing Alcaraz to stay in the set.
The Spaniard seized momentum, edging the tie-break 7-5.
From there, the four-time Grand Slam champion shifted into top gear.
Mixing power and finesse, Alcaraz dismantled Sinner’s defenses and closed out the match with a sharp cross-court volley.
“I’m just really happy to get my first Rome title—hopefully it’s not the last,” said Alcaraz. “I’m also really happy to see Jannik back playing at this amazing level.
Coming back after three months and making the final is something incredible, so congratulations to him.”
The 22-year-old also praised his own performance, especially his mental and tactical approach.
“I’m proud of how I handled the match. From the first point to the last, I felt sharp and focused.”
Sinner, whose winning run dated back to October—when he last lost to Alcaraz in the China Open final—remained upbeat despite the defeat.
“These past few months haven’t been easy,” Sinner said. “But reaching the final here is a great result. I gave it all I had today. It was a good test, and I’ll keep building from here.”
